Posted - 08/13/2011 : 23:22:22 Recently I had the good fortune of getting back in touch with Steve Kush, who lived 2 doors down from us on Magoun Avenue back in the great old days; we had only spoken once in the last 50 years.

Our houses--at 6912 and 6920 Magoun, were EXACTLY the same design, down to the last inch. Steve's family moved in (he wasn't born yet) on Labor Day weekend, 1954, and we moved in 2 weekends later. Apparently, the electricity in our house wasn't on yet, and my dad---for the rest of his life---remembered how Mr. Kush ran a big extension cord out of his basement window over to our house, supplying us with power until ours came on. Now that's a good neighbor!

What's really cool is that Steve (and his sisters Caroline and Bev) remember A LOT of details from our days on Magoun, so we decided to start this thread and share some of the memories and photos with Sheptalk---sort of a chronicle of those fabulous times. I assume Steve will be signing up soon, and we'll see where it goes.

Here's a pic of my late brother Mike (L) and I in front of our house in the summer of 1955 (this pic has been posted elsewhere on Sheptalk for a few years). Life was good.

And here he is --"Little Stevie" Kush, in THE CHAIR-- barber chair, that is...right up the block at Floyd Darnell's Barber Shop, on the corner of 169th and Magoun; can't be sure from this pic if Steve was enjoying the experience or not...

50 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)

S C Jones

Posted - 01/23/2016 : 12:28:54

quote:Originally posted by wvcogs

Yep, still here. I'm just not checking as often as I should.

Still alive and digging out. CJ how are you guys doing with your REAL, Honest to goodness SNOW?

All the news about London Kentucky makes me nostalgic for my childhood years of 6—12 when I lived there with aunts, uncles and cousins. The interstates may be a trucker's dream come true, but this kind of weather (and even rain) can make it a nightmare from which recovery is impossible.

wvcogs

Posted - 12/18/2015 : 17:01:58 Yep, still here. I'm just not checking as often as I should.

Little Stevie

Posted - 08/16/2015 : 13:04:28Yep! still alive! Just haven't had anything to post for a while!

Posted - 08/15/2015 : 23:34:07Today we celebrated the Magoun Ave. resident with the most senority, Mrs. Klish, who was 97 years young on the 12th. Attending a pizza party at the HOP were former and current neighbors: Jim Genovesi, Alan Molchan, Larry Rapchak, Jim Stewart, Bev Kush-Mains, Dawn & Little Stevie! I only hope to make it to 97! #1 The Birthday girl! With her cake by Dawn!#2 Larry, Jim Genovesi, Alan, Mrs. Klish, Bev, Jim Stewart & Little Stevie!#3 Mrs. Klish holding a copy of the Times from a few weeks ago about her contribution to the war effort of building & testing tanks! Here's the link:http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/doug-ross/doug-ross-tanks-for-the-memories-as-in-sherman-tanks/article_9098379d-42b9-595f-9e24-aed00ff43766.html#4 Mrs. Klish & her "boys" from the 'hood!

Jay

Posted - 04/27/2014 : 11:35:50

quote:Originally posted by duane

Well, ladies and germs, I moved the opposite direction, to Northern Minnesota. Last week it was -35 (just the temp) and -55 (with the wind chill). They cancelled just about everything, even the University closed, which it almost never does.

We've got a couple of feet of snow on the ground and keep getting a few inches at a time. I'm getting pretty sick of the snow and cold.

Glad to know the ol' region rats are still out there and tuning in to the forum. Thanks, and I'm sure we'll find interesting things to discuss in 2014.

Duane, you and I seem to think alike. I also moved north, but I didn't stop at the border. I'm a permanent resident of Canada now even though I hate winter and hockey.

My only connection with this thread is that I attended and graduated from Purdue Calumet, just a few blocks east of Magoun Avenue.

Colonel

Posted - 02/04/2014 : 09:31:06 Duane, the local anti-hunters will not accept anything coming from the state DNR (here, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection). They claim that the NJ DEP is merely an advocate for bloodthirsty hunters who use the regulated hunts as a cover for their "inhumane slaughter." Thanks, anyway. And Excelsior!

duane

Posted - 02/03/2014 : 23:54:54 This forum is not the venue to discuss deer herbivory, its impact on forest regeneration, or the methods for managing/reducing deer populations. I looked to PM you, but you have no contact info (email) listed in your profile on this forum.

That said, I suggest you contact your state DNR, as it is the state, not the federal govt. that administers hunting and deer population numbers.

Colonel

Posted - 02/03/2014 : 09:00:31 Duane, I usually only post on the Shepherd topics, but just saw you are with the US Forest Service. (Thanks for your public service, and thanks to seejay2 for your military service.) I have a home in suburban New Jersey, where we have been holding regulated deer hunts because of a vast overpopulation of white-tailed deer, with all the attendant issues, including the destruction of understory of local forests and parks (as well as deer-borne disease, plant/crop destruction and deer/vehicle collisions). However, there is a vocal minority of citizens speaking out against the "inhumane slaughter of innocent animals," when other effective and humane means of effective deer management exist and, in any event, other animals are often to blame for any such problems. Does the US Forest Service have a position on the foregoing issues and/or any relevant materials? Thanks much.

seejay2

Posted - 02/02/2014 : 07:54:17 While in Viet Nam, I would profess how I would never return to NWI permanently after my tour. Well, 40 years later I finally moved out. I guess the money talks and the BS walks...Cj

duane

Posted - 02/02/2014 : 01:43:21 Sure. Took a job with the US Forest Service. It turned into a career...and here I am.

seejay2

Posted - 02/01/2014 : 05:28:02 Just out of curiosity, Duane, what would take you to that location?...Cj

duane

Posted - 01/31/2014 : 15:02:20 Well, ladies and germs, I moved the opposite direction, to Northern Minnesota. Last week it was -35 (just the temp) and -55 (with the wind chill). They cancelled just about everything, even the University closed, which it almost never does.

We've got a couple of feet of snow on the ground and keep getting a few inches at a time. I'm getting pretty sick of the snow and cold.

Glad to know the ol' region rats are still out there and tuning in to the forum. Thanks, and I'm sure we'll find interesting things to discuss in 2014.

S C Jones

Posted - 01/29/2014 : 20:54:12 CJ: Talk about a rude awakening—but, "The sun will be out tomorrow" and you can then wait for Atlanta or Birmingham to thaw out and unclog the highways. So you have an excuse to stay a while longer in the Sunshine state.

I hope you do get some rays, if not to tan, to lift your spirits.

seejay2

Posted - 01/29/2014 : 19:22:08 Just to keep things even, I am in Cape San Blas, Florida (about 50 mi South of Panama City). It dropped down to 30 degrees and a light rain coated all the roads, bridges and trees with ice. The whole damn area is shut down or shutting down. They have nothing here to put on the roads to unslick them. It's like ice water in hell. There is no salt in hell or in Florida to spread on the highways...Cj

BobK

Posted - 01/29/2014 : 17:47:17 I thought Tom broke it.

Bob

wvcogs

Posted - 01/29/2014 : 09:43:44 Still here. Temperature below zero this morning in WV, but I've not been stopped by any trains. I do check Shep once a day to see if anyone is out there.Ken

seejay2

Posted - 01/29/2014 : 05:21:39 Still alive!...Cj

S C Jones

Posted - 01/28/2014 : 17:46:42 Hey, Duane!

Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder?

Or is it Absinthe that makes the heart grow fonder?

The temperature down here this winter is too reminiscent of NWI for my bloodand I got stopped by a looooong train today, so I had to at least check this siteto see if any Region Rats were commenting.

Sorry, I have nothing of substance to add.

duane

Posted - 01/28/2014 : 12:03:43 Hello? Anybody home? Did people make a New Year's resolution to abstain from this site?

Tom J

Posted - 12/29/2013 : 17:06:13 Guess I'll pass, CJ. :)

seejay2

Posted - 12/29/2013 : 07:43:19 One more little tidbit...anyone interested in reviving "Johnson's Chicken" on Rt 6, now's your chance. The biker bar is shut down and the building is up for sale. Tom???

seejay2

Posted - 12/28/2013 : 08:10:04 In Valpo? Yeah! And a cold one, too. Glad to be back in Murray. 55 deg...Cj

S C Jones

Posted - 12/27/2013 : 11:00:44 CJ, did you guys have a white Christmas?

seejay2

Posted - 12/27/2013 : 05:34:49 ...However, SC, we balanced out the load on the holidays for all y'all when we followed the bright star back to NWI for a few days.

We will tip the scales again though today, when we return to the commonwealth...Cj

S C Jones

Posted - 12/26/2013 : 10:54:38 A belated Merry Christmas to you guys or y'all. Seems like we are top heavy on thesouthern side now that CJ and his family joined the Kentuckians.

Aww. Ken, a Charlie Brown tree, too!

wvcogs

Posted - 12/25/2013 : 09:57:08Merry 2013 Christmas to all Region Rats where ever they may be from one of us who got lost and ended up here in the hills of West Virginia.

Ken

Tom J

Posted - 12/25/2013 : 08:45:32 Merry Christmas to you too, Steve!

Merry Christmas to ALL of my Region Rat buddies at Sheptalk!

Tom

Little Stevie

Posted - 12/24/2013 : 20:48:59 [

Just want to wish all here atSheptalk A very, merry Christmas 2013!LS

Roger D

Posted - 11/17/2013 : 19:40:40 `Mrs. Stewart is to be buried in Beaver Dam Ky. Tuesday. Beaver Dam is less than 30 miles from where Tom J. and I live.

Little Stevie

Posted - 11/16/2013 : 10:10:03

quote:Originally posted by Tom J

Was this the neighbor lady that you and Larry reminisced with and went out to eat with, Steve?

Yes Tom, Georgia was one of them. Although there isn't a clear photo of her, it was at her home where we visited with her son,Jim and Mrs. Klish (the lady in the Halloween pics). Georgia was a member of the bunco club, is in that picture, but on the very left edge. You really can't see her. Either my sister or maybe Larry has a photo of her from our visit. She was sick then but seemed to be quite healthy. It is Georgia's "Rain King" sprinkler Larry posted the picture of. She will be sadly missed by all that knew her.LS

Tom J

Posted - 11/16/2013 : 07:57:43 Was this the neighbor lady that you and Larry reminisced with and went out to eat with, Steve?

Tom J

Posted - 11/16/2013 : 07:48:38 May God bless the Stewart family and comfort them in this time of loss.

Mrs. Stewart was one of the kindest, gentlest people on this earth. Larry & I had the great fortune to spend time with her and Jim this past year. My condolences to Jim & Chris and the entire Stewart family. She will be missed but be in our hearts forever.LS

Little Stevie

Posted - 10/22/2013 : 07:28:47Man!I love to hear youse guyz memories about the Serenade!I don't remember ever eating there, just going with Rod Hladfor a glass of ice water after a strenuous morningof baseball in his backyard!LS

HassoBenSoba

Posted - 10/21/2013 : 22:37:43 And from the looks of this photo, Karl and Al did it all when it came to keepin' the place running like clockwork. No wonder the food was so good.

I'd love to be able to step back into this picture and see exactly what it was that made the food taste so great--especially the burgers and chocolate shakes. Modern-day chains like Steak & Shake don't come anywhere near what these two guys accomplished on their own at the Serenade.

LR

Roger D

Posted - 10/21/2013 : 21:37:08 They were both concerned about taking care of their customers as all in retail business should be. It didn't make any difference wheather you were outside for curb service or inside at the counter they wanted you taken care of. That is why one of them was almost always there. Two cooks, two counter girls and two carhops during the week with three counter girls and three carhops on Friday and Saturday nights. They would help out at the counter or kitchen as needed. They made sure the carhops were not mistreated in any way.

Little Stevie

Posted - 10/20/2013 : 19:25:55Here's another photo of a hard working Karl,

I'm sure Karl & Al treated this as their new "baby"!Larry, maybe you or Roger can elaborate further on this one.LS

Little Stevie

Posted - 10/18/2013 : 14:20:53Here is an article written in the Hammond Timesby their "Girl Reporter" Edan Wright, published on August 25, 1951, detailing the experiences of working as a "Car Hop".Not sure if her "Boss" was not also her father?

A darn good read!LS

MrRazz

Posted - 10/18/2013 : 12:42:58 My dad was a "regular" there, when we first moved to Hammond, living in the Schliecher neighborhood just north of the Little Calumet. Remember going there for burgers...after being helped up on the stool, enjoyed the spin. Don't remember, Mr. Fisher, but do remember Mr. Wright...he was always very friendly, and I know my dad enjoyed visiting with him. After relocating to Hessville, don't remember going there as much.

Roger D

Posted - 10/18/2013 : 08:18:57 They had different personalities, Karl was somewhat hard nosed while Al was more laid back. We never called them by there first names. It was always Mr. Wright and Mr. Fischer.

Roger D

Posted - 10/18/2013 : 08:14:09 Yes Karl hired me. He and Al took turns being on 'sight'. One would open in the morning and be there until 4. Then the other would work til close and open the next am. that way they would be there every day but would have more or less 24 hours off at a time. Allen Wright always did the payroll.

HassoBenSoba

Posted - 10/18/2013 : 04:05:24 Roger--

But you knew and worked for Karl, right?Did he hire you?

Just asking, as I am interested in what you remember.

Larry

Roger D

Posted - 10/17/2013 : 08:48:07 This pic was before my time but I spent many hours in that grill area.

HassoBenSoba

Posted - 10/16/2013 : 23:09:01HERE HE IS!

KARL FISHER himself ~

A true American entrepreneur, the guy who conceived, designed and constructed the legendarySERENADE DRIVE-IN.

Apparently, he also ran the joint in a very hands-on way.

Roger-- I bet this brings back memories.

LR

Little Stevie

Posted - 10/13/2013 : 22:34:06I'm not sure,but I think the photo above, was taken on my first day of school.Being a Mid-termer, I'm guessing January of 1960. A month short of my 5th birthday.Had they not held us Mid-termers back a semester in 2nd grade, I would have graduated at the age of 17, in January of 1973.So I think Michelle's photo was the Summer of '61. A year and 6 months later.LS

HassoBenSoba

Posted - 10/13/2013 : 21:52:16 Tommy--

Thanks for the background info on Dairy Queen and their soft-serve thing; all of this is helpful in documenting the Serenade era.

MICHELLE!!!----

Boy, is it good to hear from you and see that terrific photo of the old 6900 block of Magoun; thanks so much for posting it.

I imagine you've had a chance to read through some of the VOLUMES of stuff that Steve and I have posted over the past few years; it's pretty much a chronicle/diary of that great time that we all experienced. You were the same age as my younger sister Nancy, so you and I never had any personal encounters that I recall-- CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY, believe me....

I hope that you will contribute more, in terms of memories and photos, should you have any. You may also want to check out the "Jefferson School" thread here on Sheptalk, which also contains a lot of cool stuff.

Re: the photo you posted: it's a little tough to date it exactly; if you continue looking past Steve's green Dodge, you see another greenish parked car (that probably belonged to our next-door-neighbor Sarah's parents); the next car would be ours---and it looks like it might be black and white.

If so, that would be our '56 Chevy wagon, which we traded in for a new copper Chevy wagon in September of 1960; that means the photo was taken in summer of '60.

HOWEVER---check the photo below, from early (Feb?) 1960, at the end of a school day at Jefferson. There's Rod Hlad, Michelle, my sister Nancy (with one of those rare winter horse-flys stuck in her eye), and Lil' Stevie himself.

So youse' guys figure it out----

Was Michelle's newly-posted photo taken 6 months later than this one, or a year and 6 months later?---in which case the date would be summer of '61, and the black-and-white car in front of our house a figment of my imagination.

In either case, us Rapchaks were still living at 6912, since we didn't move out 'til March of '62.

ALSO-- you may want to check the home-movie footage of Nancy's birthday party, Dec. 18th, 1960, You-Tube link, posted on Sheptalk page 7,(12/15/2011); you clearly see Steve, Rod Hlad, AND Alan Molchan in this film. (Sorry, Michelle---you probably were not invited to that long-ago party!)

I'd guess that the new photo was taken in summer of '61.In any case, it's GREAT to see it!

Keep posting those great old Magoun memories.

Larry

tommy51

Posted - 10/11/2013 : 16:13:33

quote:Originally posted by S C Jones

Found this online

History (to give a perspective on the time Serenade could have installed this contraption)

In 1946, Henry C. Duke and his son, Gene, seized a great opportunity.Owner's of a commercial laundry equipment repair company, they were asked to build an ice cream freezer for Dairy Queen. The pleasant result: the world’s first pressurized soft-serve ice cream freezer. Dairy Queen franchises soon began sprouting across the country, boosted by strong sales and outstanding profits from an exciting new dessert made possible by the Dukes’ machine.

The Dairy Queen story began with a father and son in Green River, Illinois, who had been experimenting with a soft frozen dairy product. They contacted a good friend and customer, Sherwood Dick "Sherb" Noble, who agreed to run a 10 cent "all you can eat" trial sale at his walk-in ice cream store in Kankakee, Illinois on August 4, 1938. Within two hours, he provided more than 1,600 servings of the new, unnamed, semi-frozen, "soft serve" dairy product formulated by his new business partner, J. F. McCullough..

At that time, existing freezers were too cold for this new dessert so in July, 1939, McCullough contacted Harry M. Oltz who had a machine that could generate the proper temperature for McCulloughís soft serve ice cream. †In an agreement between the two, McCullough was allowed to use the machines in his store, but gave Oltz a 12% profit from all ice cream made with the machine.† The Stoeling Brothers Co. agreed to manufacture the machine.††††††††††† While tweaking the ice cream recipe McCullough discovered that reducing the standard 10% butter fat to 5-6% tasted better.† He also found that the ice cream tasted better at 18 F.†

By June 22, 1940, McCullough (and co-owner Sherb Noble) was ready to open the first Dairy Queen store in Joliet, Illinois. It was named Dairy Queen, and the rest is soft-serve-franchise history.

This could mean that DQ parted ways with the Stoeling Brothers Co. by 1946...I dunno.

Little Stevie

Posted - 10/11/2013 : 14:09:08Hey Larry,Michelle states that this might be from '60 or '61.Can you tell if any of the cars in the photo are your family's?I'm thinking this is from after you moved,which would be '62 or later, right?

Little Stevie

Posted - 10/09/2013 : 09:49:58Hey Michelle!Welcome to the site!

You do remember Larry Rapchak and his family, don't you?

Wow! How about them "Kids from Magoun"?Looks like you and Rod might be getting ready to go on a date? Nice dress and Rod in a coat and tie! Could this have been taken on a Sunday afternoon, after church, maybe? How awesome does the neighborhood look! Our green two tone, '55 dodge with the white roof is the car on the very far right, almost out of the picture.Thanx for sharing "Mickey"!Please add any other photos and memories of your/our days growing up on "Magoun". It was "The Best of Times"